Across the mighty Mississippi..more images of powerlessness

For those of us not in "Tornado Alley" the idea of a huge funnel  cloud descending from the sky is an abstract concept. 

Just as the idea of the earth shaking  your home off the foundation is for those in many parts of the USA. (That said, Oklahoma had a 4.2 earthquake a week or so ago, as did Connecticut earlier in the fall.) Rhonda lives in an area hit by the massive number (perhaps as many as 300 in 2-3 days) of tornadoes at the end of April last year. Her area was hit, not as badly as some but badly enough. We heard the story of lives lost, including her cousin and one or two children all within miles of her home. She took us to see the area. It was sobering to say the least. Her oldest boy saw the one that passed by their home. Category 3. The one above is a category 5.

Now the clean up is underway and men have work logging out the downed hardwood. Their lives will never be the same. Please think of them or if you are so inclined pray for them, especially next spring when they are sure to have some body memories as the wind picks up and the clouds darken the skies.


Cotton is an amazing crop. The ones below have not been harvested. After the harvesters go by, there is still quite a bit left on the brown plants. It reminded me of the stories of the depression, when folks would go to the fields (any crop) and hand pick the left overs to use or sell. My mom said that her brothers would go to the railroad yards and pick up coal for the furnace. Seems like those subsistence skills have been lost. Not that I would wish anyone to have to do that backbreaking work, but still. It kept them warm on cold Buffalo nights.

We crossed the Mississippi.

And a new bridge underway

This Arkansas park was one of great beauty. It is a horseshoe shaped lake right next to the Mississippi. We thought it was pronounced "she-co" but it is chico. The shores are lined with cypress and at sunset they are just incredible.

Posted in the laundry, the only internet for miles around,  at Big Bend National Park, TX